Power Reel Mowing Tips // 4 Ways to Adjust the Drive Roller Chain on a California Trimmer Reel Mower

[@nickelpope5412]

Newly 25 California trimmer owner. So stoked I came across this video because the drive wheel was scalping my yard every time I threw the lever down after a turn. Reached out and they hooked me up with a bracket and new chain! Your the man! This is the best KZbin lawn channel. Keep it up Travis!

[@BudgetLawns]

👍👍 right on that’s awesome. Appreciate that. Thanks so much for watching and the support!

[@jbragg2493]

You are the man! They are sending me one too!

[@BudgetLawns]

Heck yeah! Fantastic! Appreciate ya!!!

[@MrPESensation]

Update --- The drive roller lift bracket is now standard equipment on new Lawn mowers. I own the 20 inch mower the 160 Honda engine, that thing is a BEAST !!! I love way more than my 10 blade McLane reel mower.

[@BudgetLawns]

Great feedback. Thank you! Good to know. Great mower for sure.

[@JoseA1981]

Great information. Still don’t have a reel mower but I love learning.

[@BudgetLawns]

Thanks man! Appreciate ya supporting. Hope you learned for when you get that reel mower one day 😉! Thanks again 👊.

[@1975oldschool]

Finally!! 😜

[@BudgetLawns]

😂😂 Sorry to keep ya waiting bro. Hope you enjoy!

[@lawn2learn]

I like it when any manufacturer sees the flaw and makes parts to fix it. If I had that mower I’d order one ☝🏼. Must have mod !!! 🤘🏼

[@BudgetLawns]

For sure! I was super stoked to find out they were already on top of it! Perfect timing. That's a sign of a good company, not to mention how long they've been around. The part hasn't hit the market yet. It's still in the testing phase, but I'm sure it will be soon. It worked awesome on my first mow with it the other day. Appreciate the comment as always. Thank you!

[@papamowslow196]

Great info for CT owners

[@BudgetLawns]

Thanks buddy. Appreciate ya. 👊

[@PacificNorthwestLawns]

I don't have a reel mower, I'm just here to support your great videos Travis. 😁👍🏻

[@BudgetLawns]

Thank ya sir. Really appreciate that! Means a lot!

[@SunnyBermuda]

🌞Great video!! Came back from vacation to a half dead lawn (15 day drought) and lots of videos to catch up on.

[@BudgetLawns]

Thanks bro. Hope you had a great vacay and didn't worry about the lawn too much. That's a brutal drought. You're a pro and will have it back in no time if you can get some rain. More and more and more rain here. It's depressing. And don't ever feel like you gotta catch up on my vids. I understand how hard it is to hit them all. Almost stressful at times. Really appreciate ya! Glad to have ya back!

[@williamjohnson9727]

Awesome information that you're sharing with reel mowers. Thanks for the great video as always. 💪

[@BudgetLawns]

Really appreciate that buddy. Your support means a lot. Have a great day!

[@SplashBucketz]

Just shot them an email. Raising the roller would be sweet! Great video again bud! 👍🏽

[@BudgetLawns]

Right on bro. Hope they send one to ya. It's a sweet little bracket. Gonna be so easy to adjust the chain length no matter what height you cut at. Pretty handy to have. Appreciate ya!

[@SplashBucketz]

@@BudgetLawns Yup. I got a response and they’re sending a kit out. It will be interesting to install and try it out! Thanks Again.

[@BudgetLawns]

Niiiice. That's great. You'll be glad you have it!

[@SplashBucketz]

@@BudgetLawns yessir 💪🏽

[@TWinnings_InTheLawn]

This is great news! Awesome video on the CT.

[@BudgetLawns]

Thank buddy figured you’d like this one. 👊

[@elmoreglidingclub3030]

Perfect timing! I just got a Cal Trimmer and, as I start this adventure at a higher HOC, this is a needed option. Email sent to the good folks at California Trimmer. Thanks for the info!

[@BudgetLawns]

Saweet! It works great. Hope they're able to send one your way. Appreciate ya!

[@rizocars6115]

Update, thanks to your video i was able to lower my hoc to 0.5 on the ca trimmer, i put the roller in the middle hole and with this bracket the drum was able to touch the floor, i even installed the shorter chain, I just had celebration bermuda installed last week, can't wait to dominate, thank you for making these videos

[@BudgetLawns]

Right on. That's awesome. Thank you for the update. You're welcome. I appreciate ya!

[@TurfCulture]

Agreed 100% Jim also sent me the chain bracket last year and it is a must have. There just might be some other exciting things in development with Cal Trimmer coming very soon!

[@BudgetLawns]

Nice, I figured you had one. Yeah, they're definitely a company that's all about making things better even though they're already good. Hard not to like that. Appreciate ya buddy!

[@rizocars6115]

I need that bracket, do you have a link?

[@BudgetLawns]

They are not for sale yet. They're only in the testing phase. I mention in the video to send an email to [e-mail] and they may just send you one to test too. Appreciate ya!

[@bigtvideos3514]

Perfect timing! I just bought a used one and was wondering how I could adjust the chain to raise the drive roller up. Thanks!

[@BudgetLawns]

Awesome. Love it when it works out just right. Congrats on the mower. Good times ahead. Appreciate ya.

[@bigtvideos3514]

@@BudgetLawns Thank you sir! My front roller came in today and ready to get it on.

[@BudgetLawns]

Right on. That’ll be a great addition. 👊

[@fabiopascotto2911]

Not really related to your video but it doesn’t hurt to ask 🤷🏻‍♂️. How to get rid (or avoid) clip marks? I have a McLane 20” and I always leave clip marks after a pass. Am I doing anything wrong? Thanks

[@BudgetLawns]

Thanks for the question. I'm not exactly sure what you mean by clip marks. I did a video last summer with some tips that might help answer it if you're talking about what I think you are...kzbin.info/www/bejne/anyQYoeor8aLisk. The vid will give you a few simple things about how I operate the mower that I've found help with the cut. Hope this helps. Appreciate ya watching and commenting.

[@fabiopascotto2911]

@@BudgetLawns just watched and not surprised it is another great video! It addressed another issue I have on my learning curve. Thanks for that. Let me try to be more specific. As you said in the video the clippings are throw to the left and a small pile of clippings are left all the way across the pass line. Based on my research it is called clip marks. I only didn’t find a solution for that

[@BudgetLawns]

Thank you. Appreciate the kind words. Glad you found it helpful. I get what you're saying now. I really don't have problems with clip marks unless it's overgrown due to rain and not being able to mow. In that case, I'd make a double pass in multiple directions. Catching the clippings is another option, which I don't do. You can also make half width passes to go over those clip marks another time to see if they're dispersed more. I hope one of these options helps. But very regular mowing at short heights shouldn't result in very noticeable clip lines. Thanks for watching.

[@andyslawncareandoutdooradv]

I enjoy learning about reel mowers, even thought I may not get one until I'm done with college and own my own house😂😂

[@BudgetLawns]

😂😂 Never too early to start learning. You’ll get there and you’ll already be way ahead of the game. Thanks so much buddy.

[@Striperman]

I watched it and am still looking for the chain on my Allett and my Earthwise lol. Oh wait my Fiskars is chain driven lol. Good stuff bud as always

[@BudgetLawns]

Haha. Thanks buddy. Appreciate ya!!!

[@Thelawnenforcementofficer]

What is your u/n on thelawnforum.com?

[@BudgetLawns]

Feltner

[@sawyersmallwood1286]

What size/where did you get pin for option #4

[@BudgetLawns]

??

[@sawyersmallwood1286]

You said when running the pin through the chain East and West instead of front to back you will use a different pin. What is the different pin? (8:10)

[@BudgetLawns]

All the pins came with the adapter. One to go one way and another for the other way.

[@sawyersmallwood1286]

@@BudgetLawns ahh I understand. I’m picking up my mower this weekend and incorrectly assumed when you said use a different pin that you were doing your own modification. I would’ve understood if I had the kit already that it came with two pins. My apologies

[@BudgetLawns]

Congrats on the mower. Sorry that was a bit confusing. I see how it could be. No worries. You're gonna love it. For the price, you can't beat a Cal Trimmer!👍👍

[@dchildress17]

Don’t have a dog in this fight as I don’t reel mow... but I’ll just smash that like button and drop a comment 😂😂😂

[@BudgetLawns]

You da man! 👊 Thank you so much brother! I really appreciate that!

[@YardGuy]

First.

[@BudgetLawns]

Shazaaaaaam! 👊🥇

[@kennycooperkc]

This doesn’t help me out at all with my Hudson star 🤷🏻‍♂️. And tighter always gooder 😂

[@BudgetLawns]

LOL, I agree. Gooder better always haha. Thanks bud. Appreciate ya!

[@clarkholton461]

Is it normal to have to adjust a reel mowers knife bed after every 2nd cutting?

[@BudgetLawns]

I found that to be the case so far. I check it about every other mow. Will prolly start doing it ever mow. Great question. Appreciate ya.

[@Thelawnenforcementofficer]

@@BudgetLawns for realz?! I have not checked mine yet this spring, and I’ve been mowing my azz off. It still cuts like a champ. Does yours stop cutting well, thus requiring the adjustment?

[@BudgetLawns]

@@Thelawnenforcementofficer No it doesn't stop cutting well. I just do the paper check every other mow to see how things are looking. Sometimes towards the middle of the reel, it won't cut the paper cleanly, so I just barely tweak it to make sure the cut is good on the paper all the way across. You may check yours just to see. I will say tho that last summer when I got it, I went the rest of the season without having to make any adjustments. It wasn't until this year after the scalp that I had to do any.

[@RaineyPowerTraining]

Bro! Don't abandon us poor rotary guys! 😢

[@BudgetLawns]

I’m still here for ya. I haven’t rotary mowed in a a couple years now. May have to in some spots at the new house. Prolly gonna be dealing with some steep slopes. Appreciate ya man.

[@pelehound]

Hi. Love all the vids. You've got a great YT personality. Hope you'll see this question. Here in Northern California - Santa Rosa - extreme drought regulations. So, here's what I do. 1/2 acre. All grass front and back, for the most part, w/perimeter hedges all around - privet and pittosporum. I water the hedges, and a little of the grass, every other day w/ hose and nozzle. Takes 30 minutes for the front and 30 minutes for the back. My nozzle at the spray level I use, puts out 4.16 gallons per minute or 124 gallons per 30 minutes. What do you think of that amount of water that I'm using. Does it seem excessive? Thx Dave Santa Rosa Ca

[@BudgetLawns]

Thank you! Appreciate that. It's really hard to say if it's excessive as I don't know what your watering restrictions are. Staying within those is really your only option it sound like. When it comes to how much is necessary, most lawns only need an inch a week. One of my latest vids laid out 4 tips to water correctly. Here's a link to it if you haven't seen it already, kzbin.info/www/bejne/gl7clICgmMh6hqc. I hope it helps. Thanks again for the kind words. Really appreciate your support.

[@pelehound]

@@BudgetLawns Got the answer. Sprinklers - I have the same as you - take 90 seconds to fill a 5 gallon container. So, an hour of the sprinkler uses 200 gallons of water. Breaks down like this: 3.33 gallons for one minute - 5 gallons for 90 seconds - 200 gallons for one hour. Take care. Love the vids. Dave

[@BudgetLawns]

Awesome. Thank you for sharing. Glad you got it figured out. Appreciate your support!

[@christopherburkett7502]

I’m more of a Mclane kind of guy.

[@BudgetLawns]

A good machine as well from what I hear. Thanks for watching and commenting. Appreciate ya.